BBC Learning English

6 Minute English
24 January 2013
Etiquette lessons for boys
Callum:

Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. Im Callum and with me today is

Jennifer. Hello Jennifer.

Jennifer:

Hello Callum.

Callum:

Jennifer, did you go to a finishing school?

Jennifer:

You mean one of those schools where young ladies learn how to behave in high
society?

Callum:

Yes, did you go to one?

Jennifer:

What do you think?

Callum:

Well, your manners and behaviour are so impeccable that I would not be
surprised if you had.

Jennifer:

Well, I dont know about finishing school, but it sounds like youve graduated
from charm school!

Callum:

In days gone by, social etiquette, or the way to behave in polite society, was
something that well-to-do young ladies were tutored in. Todays programme is
all about a course being run now for teenage boys in an English school. Before
we learn more about this, heres todays question. A question about et iquette. In
a fancy restaurant, either side of your place setting there are different knives
and forks for the different courses of your meal. Maybe there are three different
forks on the left and three knives on the right. The question is, which should you
use first? The knife and fork furthest from your plate, the set closest to your
plate or the set in the middle? Jennifer, what do you think?

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Jennifer:

Well, I think I know the answer to this one. I think its outside-in. So I think the
set furthest from your plate is the one you use first.

Callum:

OK. Well find out if youre right at the end of the programme. Fowey School in
England has begun offering etiquette lessons to teenage boys. So whose idea
was this? Heres their Headmaster, John Parry, talking to our colleagues from
BBC Radio.

Headmaster of Fowey School, John Parry:

The way it came about was that a group of girls actually wanted a course to prepare them for
the Year 11 Leavers Ball which is, which is something which most schools do these days.
Theyre pretty sophisticated events, and the boys said, actually you know what, we want a
piece of that as well.

Callum:

Jennifer, whose idea was it?

Jennifer:

It was the boys idea. John Parry said it came about because , after the girls had
asked for a course to prepare them for a special social event, the boys wanted
one too. Or as he put it, the boys said, We want a piece of that as well. Which
simply means, they wanted to be included as well.

Callum:

And what special event are they all preparing for?

Jennifer:

The Year 11 Leavers Ball. A ball is big formal party and a leavers ball is held at
the end of the school year, when students are leaving the school. John describes
them as being sophisticated events.

Callum:

Have you ever been to one of these?

Jennifer:

Yes actually. When I left school we were one of the first years to have a leavers
ball and it was a very glamorous event and quite sophisticated t oo.

Callum:

Lets listen to John Parry again.

Headmaster of Fowey School, John Parry:

The way it came about was that a group of girls actually wanted a course to prepare them for
the Year 11 Leavers Ball which is, which is something which most schools do these days.

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Theyre pretty sophisticated events, and the boys said, actually you know what, we want a
piece of that as well.
Callum:

Who is helping with the etiquette lessons? What are the kinds of things they are
learning, and how do the boys feel about it? Heres John Parry again.

Headmaster of Fowey School, John Parry:

We work very closely with a, with a local hotel who are teaching the boys, you know, all about
etiquette, all about how to dress, how to act with confidence and so on. Its gone down
extremely well with the boys.

Callum:

Jennifer, who is helping the lessons and what are they learning?

Jennifer:

A local hotel is helping them out and teaching them things like how to dress and
how to act with confidence.

Callum:

Has it been popular?

Jennifer:

Yes, John said that its gone down extremely well with the boys. If something
goes down well it means that its been liked.

Callum:

So what do you think of this Jennifer, do you think these are useful things for
school boys to learn or does it seem maybe a bit old-fashioned?

Jennifer:

I dont think its old-fashioned. I think its useful for school boys and perhaps
school girls to learn these manners and etiquette. Its really nice when people
hold doors open for you. Its a very polite thing to do so I think everybody could
do with a bit of education.

Callum:

Yes, I completely agree. Im just being polite there, you know. In the case of this
school though, its not all about impressing girls at parties. Headmaster John
Parry also believes there is a strong practical reason for learning etiquette. He
thinks it can help overcome some of the problems that universities and
employers have with young people. He explains more:

Headmaster of Fowey School, John Parry:

One of the criticisms they make of students is that they know a lot of knowledge, theyre very

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good in their exams but sometimes their social skills let them down. And we wanted our
students to, you know, walk with confidence, you know, hold their head up high in any
given social situation; whether thats, you know a ball, as were doing, or whether thats going
for a university interview, a job interview.

Callum:

So Jennifer, how can these classes help, apart from helping them with girls?

Jennifer:

Well, by helping to build their confidence it can give them a better chance when
applying for jobs or university places. He mentioned that even though students
may be good at exams, they also need to have good social skills, they need to
be confident. That could make the difference between their getting a job or not.

Callum:

Yes, as he put it, he wants the students to be able to hold their heads up high.
An expression which means to be proud and confident. Lets listen again.

Headmaster of Fowey School, John Parry:

One of the criticisms they make of students is that they know a lot of knowledge, theyre very
good in their exams but sometimes their social skills let them down. And we wanted our
students to, you know, walk with confidence, you know, hold their head up high in any given
social situation; whether thats, you know a ball, as were doing, or whether thats going for a
university interview, a job interview.
Callum:

Well thats just about all we have time for today. Before we finish, the answer to
todays question. When faced with a number of different knives and forks at a
formal meal, which ones do you start with? Jennifer, you said?

Jennifer:

Outside-in, the ones furthest from your plate.

Callum:

Thats exactly right, yes.

Jennifer:

Hooray!

Callum:

Well done, well done. So thank you very much Jennifer and goodbye.

Jennifer:

Goodbye.

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Vocabulary and definitions

a finishing school

a place where young women are taught how to behave

in high society

etiquette

the accepted rules for behaviour in particular situations

to come about

to happen, to begin

a ball

a formal party often held to celebrate a special event

to want a piece of

to want to be involved with or take part in something

something
to go down well

to be successful and popular

to hold your head up high

to be confident and proud

Read and listen to the story online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2013/01/130124_6min_boys_etiquette.shtml

More on this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20708516

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